Vojakkala
Encyclopedia
Vojakkala is a minor community
with about 60 inhabitants in Haparanda Municipality
, Norrbotten County
, Sweden
, known for a long-standing feud between neighbors.
feud between a family of romani descent and several neighbors since 1984. The feud has resulted in several hundred police
report
s and two convictions for attempted murder
, the latest of which occurred in 2008.
The events have been documented by popular TV show
s Insider and Uppdrag Granskning
in April 2007 and September 3, 2008, respectively. Earlier events have been documented by local and national newspapers and TV channels since mid-late 1980 and Swedish government have made efforts to solve the feud
. The media focus has been on the romani family as the main perpetrators.
Recently a renowned investigative journalist has implied that the family has been set up by anti-romani factions of the local community and that they have played a great part in the conflict. He speculates that the family may have been the victim of prejudices and racism
. However, in 2009, the Supreme Court of Sweden
did not see any reason to overturn the ruling of the Appeals Court, which sentenced six persons to prison in connection with an attempted murder in 2008.
Dispersed settlement
A dispersed settlement is one of the main types of settlement patterns used by landscape historians to classify rural settlements found in England and other parts of the world....
with about 60 inhabitants in Haparanda Municipality
Haparanda Municipality
Haparanda Municipality is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Haparanda .In 1967 the "City of Haparanda" was merged with the rural municipalities Karl Gustav and Nedertorneå. Since 1971 Haparanda, like all other municipalities of Sweden, is a municipality...
, Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County is the northernmost county or län of Sweden. It borders Västerbotten County to the southwest, the Gulf of Bothnia to the southeast. It also borders the counties of Nordland and Troms in Norway to the northwest, and Lapland Province in Finland to the northeast.The name...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, known for a long-standing feud between neighbors.
Local feud
The community has gained attention from an infamous, long-lasting neighborNeighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
feud between a family of romani descent and several neighbors since 1984. The feud has resulted in several hundred police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
report
Report
A report is a textual work made with the specific intention of relaying information or recounting certain events in a widely presentable form....
s and two convictions for attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
, the latest of which occurred in 2008.
The events have been documented by popular TV show
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s Insider and Uppdrag Granskning
Uppdrag granskning
Uppdrag granskning is a Swedish television program focusing on investigative journalism. The program is produced by and aired on SVT and has become known for the use of concealed cameras and microphones....
in April 2007 and September 3, 2008, respectively. Earlier events have been documented by local and national newspapers and TV channels since mid-late 1980 and Swedish government have made efforts to solve the feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
. The media focus has been on the romani family as the main perpetrators.
Recently a renowned investigative journalist has implied that the family has been set up by anti-romani factions of the local community and that they have played a great part in the conflict. He speculates that the family may have been the victim of prejudices and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. However, in 2009, the Supreme Court of Sweden
Supreme Court of Sweden
The Supreme Court of Sweden is the supreme court and the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the Supreme Court, leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of...
did not see any reason to overturn the ruling of the Appeals Court, which sentenced six persons to prison in connection with an attempted murder in 2008.